How to Set Goals That Are More Achievable

The opportunity and hope of the new year often feels so refreshing, accompanied by the motivation to strive for wellness and health. We love taking this time to reflect on the previous year and look toward the coming year. With this often comes planning goals and thinking about our aspirations for the new year. The thing is, the ways we set our goals and the types of goals we set ultimately matter a lot, and setting the right types of goals sets us up for better chances of achieving them! These goals are called SMART goals - we use these often in practice to help support clients' in achieving healthy, balanced lifestyles and progressing toward their wellness goals.

We want to share some journal reflections and a guide to setting SMART goals to help you ride the motivation of the new year if that resonates with you!

Journal Prompts

What am I proud of accomplishing last year?

What did I learn about myself?

How did I grow?

What did I struggle with?

What am I looking forward to this year?

What am I leaving behind?

How do I want to show up in my relationships?

What Are SMART Goals

SMART is an acronym! It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting goals with these five criteria, you craft goals that are clear, actionable, and achievable.

• Specific: A specific goal has a clear and well-defined target. It answers the "what," "why," and "how" or your goal. For example, instead of something more vague like "be healthier," a specific goal would be "over the next three months, practice eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly."
• Measurable: A measurable goal includes a quantifiable measure of progress. This helps you track your progress and stay motivated. For example, instead of setting a goal like "eat healthier," a measurable goal might be "eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day" or "exercise regularly" can look like "exercise for 30 minutes, 5 times per week / get 150 minutes of exercise per week"
• Attainable: An attainable goal is realistic and achievable given your current resources and constraints. It stretches you to grow and improve, but it is not so difficult that it becomes demoralizing or impossible to achieve.
• Relevant: A relevant goal is aligned with your values, interests, and larger goals. It is something that is important to you and will make a positive impact on your life.
• Time-bound: A time-bound goal has a specific deadline for completion. This helps you stay focused and motivated, and allows you to celebrate your achievements.

How to Set SMART Goals

We work with our clients to set SMART goals as a way to create healthy habits and make progress towards their wellness goals. Here are some of our tips for setting your own:

1. Focus on behaviors, not outcomes: Rather than setting a goal like "be healthier," try setting a goal that focuses on the behaviors that will lead to better overall health, such as "eat a healthy, balanced diet" or "exercise for at least 30 minutes 5 times per week." This helps you focus on the things you can control, rather than stressing about outcomes that may be influenced by factors outside of your control.

2. Make your goals actionable: To make your goals actionable, break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, if your goal is to "eat a healthy, balanced diet," you might start by making a list of healthy meals and snacks that you enjoy, and then creating a meal plan for the week.

3. Be realistic: It's important to set goals that are challenging, but also achievable. Consider your current lifestyle, resources, and limitations when setting your goals, and aim for progress rather than perfection.

4. Celebrate your successes: As you work towards your goals, be sure to celebrate your successes along the way. This can help you stay motivated and build momentum.

We hope this gives you a useful tool for achieving your wellness goals and crafting balance. Working with our practitioners can help support your further in your wellness goals. Reach out today to book in or learn more about how we can help you!

Moncton: [email protected] / BOOK HERE / BROWSE SERVICES

Fredericton: [email protected] / BOOK HERE / BROWSE SERVICES

PEI: hello@eastnd.ca / BOOK HERE / BROWSE SERVICES

In health, 

The EASTND TEAM